Brazil Home World Cup 2002

Brazil Home World Cup 2002
After their 1998 loss, Brazil was back with a vengeance. Fuelled by the “Three R’s”- Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, Brazil won its fifth championship at the 2002 World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan.

Brazil beat all three opponents in group play in South Korea and topped the group. In Brazil’s opening game against Turkey, in Ulsan, Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face after Turkey’s Hakan Ünsal had kicked the ball at his legs. Rivaldo escaped suspension but was fined £5,180 for play-acting, and became the first player ever to be punished in FIFA’s crackdown on diving.

In their knockout round matches in Japan, Brazil defeated Belgium 2–0 in Kobe in the round of 16. Brazil defeated England 2–1 in the quarter-finals in Shizuoka. The most memorable match in Ronaldinho’s World Cup career took place in the quarter-final against England on 21 June. With Brazil trailing after Michael Owen’s 23-minute strike, Ronaldinho turned the game around. Having received the ball inside his own half, Ronaldinho ran at the England defence and wrong footed star defender Ashley Cole with a trademark step over before passing the ball to Rivaldo on the edge of the penalty area to score the equalising goal just before half-time.

Then, in the 50th minute, Ronaldinho took a free-kick from 40 yards out which curled into the top left corner of the net, completely surprising England’s goalkeeper David Seaman, giving Brazil a 2–1 lead. Seven minutes later, he got a red card for a foul on England defender Danny Mills. Ronaldinho was suspended for the semi-final, but returned to Brazil’s starting lineup for the 2–0 victory over Germany in the final as Brazil won its record fifth World Cup title.

The semi-final Brazil won comfortably 1-0 against Turkey. The final was between Germany and Brazil in Yokohama, where Ronaldo scored two goals in Brazil’s 2–0 triumph. Ronaldo also won the Golden Shoe as the tournament’s leading scorer with 8 goals. This tournament cemented the beginning of a star strudded Brazilian team. With the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka added to a team already full of stars.

The Shirt
Think about the heads that will turn if you wear this legendary shirt in the gym or on the streets. If you like a player name on the back, please select before adding the shirt to the basket. All printing comes in the original font. Exactly as you would expect. In case you want a different name on the back, please send us a message.

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